1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

[scottmm73]

Gentlemen,

A couple of months ago the wife and I were in the market for a larger (14ft +) Aluminum fishing boat. I was hoping for a Starcraft but this ol' beaut' caught my eye.

It was a 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine (Aluminum flavor), powered by a 1966 Evinrude Fastwin 18hp. The motor seemed to be in tip top shape. I got her home and waited out for winter to end to start a restoration of the old gal. The plan is a thorough cleaning inside and out. Paint on the outside (3 tone), Metallic Blue above the waterline, with ivory on the rubrails, below the waterline will be an aluminum gray color, probably dove. The transom was in need of repair, waiting on the AB 1/2 to dry, while I prep the surface for paint. I was able to score a gallon of Minwax Spar Urethane for the transom and decking. Decking will be carpeted with outdoor carpet. A new bow plate will be constructed for a place to mount a Evinrude 36F bow mount trolling motor and I am considering designing a Coleman Cooler based live well.

This will be an outdoor storage, so I am attempting of creating a deck that can be removed easily for winter storage. The boat will be stored upside down and tarped.

Work completed so far can be seen in the photos. I'm hoping to have the surface prepped today for some Rustoleum Self-Etching Primer. I've got good weather for two days. Do you think this will be long enough for the primer to dry?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

Sweet tiller tinny!!!

Have you checked her for leaks yet? It's best to do that before painting.

 

[scottmm73]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

Have you checked her for leaks yet? It's best to do that before painting.

Yessir, For a 54 year old aluminum boat I was quite surprised there were absolutely zero leaks. Just goes to show, they don't make them like they used to. There were a few steel rivets in place of the original aluminum, which showed horrible signs of corrosion. However, I've replaced with aluminum pop-rivets.

Looks like the sun is beating me to the finish line, I've finished prepping the outside and rinsed with water, waiting for it to dry before I wipe down with acetone. I may get one coat of the self-etching primer on before the day gives up the ghost.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

they don't make them like they used to.

I was going to say that in my first post too. It looks like a well built boat.

I'm sure you be catching a lot of fish in that boat!

 

[scottmm73]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

Just discovered today that this boat is a Cadillac Daytona. Though Wagemaker is not around today, the boat company had a smart business model. They introduced boats in all three building materials. Wood as the Wolverine line, Aluminum as the Cadillac line, and Fiberglass (or molded wood) as the Elgin line.

 

[scottmm73]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

Primed and ready for top coats.

Got some time to work on the trailer while waiting for the primer to dry. Replaced some rollers that looked a little long in the tooth, installed some bearing buddies. I would like to replace the winch with a nylon strap style instead of the steel cable but this may have to wait till winter. The trailer could use a sandblasting and repaint and that too will probably have to wait for winter.

I also decarboned and tuned the carb on the Fastwin, got it running slightly better. Purchased a tiny tach to get a good rpm reading but it seems to be reading too high. I ensured the tach was set to 1 spark per rotation. At idle, tach suggested 900 rpm, but sounded slightly lower. I may have to purchase a tach timing light.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

There's some good progress going on there and I really like the lines of that boat!

 

[scottmm73]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

Deck Ideas

Idea #1

Idea #2

Thoughts, or better ideas?

 

[scottmm73]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

Got a couple coats of paint applied today. Were supposed to get some good storms tonight and through the weekend, so I will be covering it up and waiting till next week to sand and apply a couple more coats.

What are your thoughts on clear coating below the waterline? The boat will be trailered so I did not get expensive bottom paint and what I read about those paints is I would get a couple of years out of it anyways before I had to repaint, so I decided to Rustoleum it. I figured a few good coats of clear coat would protect it from beachings, dockings, and trailer scars. I know I am definitely clear coating above the waterline.

 

[scottmm73]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

Real life kind of got in the way this weekend. I was able to spend a few hours on the boat on Sunday. I've got one side pretty much completed. The rain started last night and will be around until late Wednesday. Looks like I have some time to do some stuff on the honey-do list.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

Pics did not Post! Clear Coat, IMHO is a waste! It will not significantly protect the paint and then when you do get the inevitable scratches and scars you have to remove the clear coat to get to the paint. I'd recommend using the Hardener in the paint to create a more durable finish and leave it bare. Then when the scars occur you just sand, feather, prime and re-paint. Top or bottom it's all the same. My 2?!"Paint Your Boat for Under $100 Bucks...Well Almost"

 

[scottmm73]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

Boat back on the trailer.

I'm going to begin working on the transom and deck. Carpeting should be here by Monday. I haven't decided whether I should design and build some bulkheads between the benches for the deck or just frame it between the benches for the deck.

 

[scottmm73]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

After a thunder storm rolled through I was able to complete the transom and trailer lighting. Currently working on the bow plate.

 

[scottmm73]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

Well between the rainstorms, I was able to waterproof and carpet the bow plate and forward deck. I added an access panel in the forward deck so that I wouldn't lose storage space.


Bow Plate with trolling motor mounted.

Bow plate and front deck (un-carpeted).

The little one enjoying the new carpeted forward deck.

Another angle.

 

[83mulligan]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

I've got an old wagemaker that we keep up at the cabin and use for duck hunting and fishing in the bay. She's a heavy beast and nice and wide. Never leaked. Not sure of year. Its pretty beat up. One thing I'll say is that it is a very "wet" boat. Lots of spray. Your work looks really nice!

 

[Panoguy]

Re: 1959 Wagemaker Wolverine Resto

That's a seriously nice restoration! I grew-up with a home-built flat-bottom wooden rowboat, powered with the Evinrude 18HP fastwin... used to drive my friend who owned an Merc 50-powered Lyn Craft Seabreeze crazy... because it would out-pace it. That light boat combined with the fastwin is going to FLY!!